Process start-up

Abstract

Supplemental energy required during start-up of physical and chemical processes, for example fluid catalytic crackers, Velox boilers, is supplied by a gas turbine, for example an aircraft gas turbine, which can be uncoupled from the process once the process has become self-sustaining. The need for expensive additional drivers, for example large electric motors, which are conventionally used and which are fully used only at start-up is thereby largely or completely avoided.

I claim: 
     
       1. A start-up process for a chemical processing plant including at least one compressor, and heat recovery turbine, the start-up process comprising the steps: providing ducting means for receiving exhaust from a gas turbine engine and directing same into the heat recovery turbine;   physically and operatively engaging the gas turbine engine through the ducting means to the heat recovery turbine;   operating the gas turbine engine so that exhaust therefrom provides start-up energy to the heat recovery engine;   physically and operatively disengaging the gas turbine engine from the heat recovery turbine once said chemical processing plant becomes self-sustaining; and   utilizing a burner supplied with air from the compressor, said process further comprising the step of selectively introducing additional heated air from the burner into the heat recovery turbine so that the additional heated air supplements said exhaust from said gas turbine engine to provide sufficient start-up energy.     
     
     
       2. A start-up process as claimed in claim 1, said process further comprising the step of introducing cooling air frm the compressor to temperature-sensitive components of said heat recovery turbine so that said components are protected from the temperature of said exhaust of said gas turbine engine during start-up, and so that the power available from the heat recovery turbine is boosted. 
     
     
       3. A start-up process for a chemcial processing plant including at least one compressor, and heat recovery turbine, and a burner supplied with air from the compressor, the start-up process comprising the steps of: providing ducting means for receiving exhaust from a gas turbine engine and directing same into the heat recovery turbine;   physically and operatively engaging the gas turbine through the ducting means to the heat recovery turbine;   operating the gas turbine engine so that exhaust therefrom provides start-up energy to the heat recovery engine; and   selectively introducing additional heat air from the burner into the heat recovery turbine so that the additional heated air supplements the exhaust from the gas turbine engine to provide sufficient start-up energy.